Light housing adapter

ABSTRACT

The specification and drawings describe and show one embodiment of the present invention in the form an adapter having a multi-pin connector for connecting a light bulb with a corresponding multi-pin plug to the corresponding multi-pin connector; and a screw-type base portion in electrical communication with the multi-pin connector, the screw-type base portion for connecting into a screw type lamp socket. Ridges are added to facilitate the alignment of an inserted bulb into the adapter. The adapter is preferably made essentially of an integral molded composite material. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

[0001] The invention relates to an adapter for use when retrofittinglight bulbs with a screw-type base, with lights which have a multi-pinconnection, in most cases, a bi-pin connection.

[0002] The adapter is particularly useful when one wishes to use lightbulbs, including LED light bulbs, which have multi-pin plugs such asthose that plug into Molex® bi-pin connectors, in typical screw-typelamp sockets. The use of LED bulbs is especially useful to generatelight shows. Therefore, the ability to convert standard light bulbs indevices such as ground landscaping lighting devices, pool and spa lightsor lighted areas around pools and spas, theme rooms/areas, etc., tobulbs which have a multi-pin type of plug provides a convenient andinexpensive way for a consumer to retrofit standard incandescent lightbulbs to obtain a dynamic color show.

[0003] In the accompanying drawings:

[0004]FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention with the screw-type baseportion included;

[0005]FIG. 2 is a view of the invention looking inside the adapter atthe bi-pin portion;

[0006]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the invention to which thescrew-type base would connect; and

[0007]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the invention withoutthe screw-type base assembled to the invention.

[0008] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 disclose one embodimentof the present invention, which is an adapter 10 for use when convertingfrom a bulb with a screw-type base 14 to a light bulb with a multi-pinplug. Most such lights on the market have bi-pin plugs; however, it iscontemplated that lights with any number of pins for the plug portionfall within the scope of the invention.

[0009] The invention is a light housing adapter 10 comprising an adapter10 having a multi-pin connector 12 for connecting a light bulb with acorresponding multi-pin plug to said corresponding multi-pin connector12, and a screw-type base portion 14 in electrical communication withthe multi-pin connector 12, the screw-type base portion 14 forconnecting into a screw type lamp socket.

[0010] The adapter 10 has a housing portion 16 having a proximal end 16a and a distal end 16 b. The proximal end 16 a has an opening 18 forinsertion of the light bulb with the multi-pin plug. The distal end 16 bis essentially a closed end with the multi-pin connector 12 beinglocated at a geometrically centered axis 20 thereof.

[0011] The screw-type base portion 14 is fixedly connected to the distalend 16 b.

[0012] In an additional embodiment, the light housing adapter 10 furthercomprises means 22 for guiding and aligning the multi-pin plug into themulti-pin connector 12. The means 22 for guiding and aligning themulti-pin plug into the multi-pin connector 12 is preferably a raisedlongitudinal ridge portion 22 a, the raised ridge portion 22 a beingparallel to the central axis 20 of the adapter 10. The raised ridgeportion 22 a is part of a longitudinally extended portion 22 b of themulti-pin connector, the longitudinally extended portion 22 b generallyforming a receptacle receiving area 22 c for the multi-pin plug.

[0013] In still another embodiment, the light housing adapter 10 furthercomprises means 24 for guiding and aligning the light bulb with themulti-pin plug through the opening 18 at the proximal end 16 a of thehousing portion 16. The means 24 for guiding and aligning the light bulbwith the multi-pin plug through the opening 18 at the proximal end 16 aof the housing portion 16 is preferably a raised longitudinal ridgeportion 24 a, with the raised ridge portion 24 a being parallel to thecentral axis 20 of the adapter 10. The raised ridge portion 24 atypically extends inwardly from an inside surface 16 c of the housingportion 16.

[0014] The means 22 for guiding and aligning the multi-pin plug into themulti-pin connector 12 and the means 24 for guiding and aligning thelight bulb with the multi-pin plug through the opening 18 at theproximal end 16 a of the housing portion 16 are preferably orientedabout 90 degrees from each other. This will ensure proper alignment andease for inserting the bulb and for maintaining polarity if polarity isof concern.

[0015] The multi-pin connector 12 in most common cases will be a bi-pinconnector, similar in structure to those manufactured Molex®Corporation.

[0016] The housing portion can be made from a polymeric compositematerial. The polymeric composite material can be selected from anynumber of plastic or polymer based materials including polypropylenecomposites, polyvinyl composites and reinforced nylon composites.

[0017] In most cases, the housing portion 16 will be generallycylindrically-shaped but other shapes are contemplated, such as variouspolygonal shapes.

[0018] It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detaileddescription of one or more embodiments of this invention and thatnumerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordancewith the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant tolimit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention isto be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0019] Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. A light housing adapter comprising: an adapterhaving a multi-pin connector for connecting a light bulb with acorresponding multi-pin plug to said corresponding multi-pin connector;and a screw-type base portion in electrical communication with themulti-pin connector, the screw-type base portion for connecting into ascrew type lamp socket.
 2. The light housing adapter according to claim1, wherein the adapter has a housing portion having a proximal end and adistal end; the proximal end having an opening for insertion of thelight bulb with the multi-pin plug; the distal end being essentially aclosed end with the multi-pin connector being located at a geometricallycentered axis thereof; and the screw-type base portion being fixedlyconnected to said distal end.
 3. The light housing adapter according toclaim 2, further comprising: means for guiding and aligning themulti-pin plug into the multi-pin connector.
 4. The light housingadapter according to claim 3, further comprising: means for guiding andaligning the light bulb with the multi-pin plug through the opening atthe proximal end of the housing portion.
 5. The light housing adapteraccording to claim 3, wherein the means for guiding and aligning themulti-pin plug into the multi-pin connector comprises: a raisedlongitudinal ridge portion, said raised ridge portion being parallel tothe central axis of the adapter; and the raised ridge portion being partof a longitudinally extended portion of the multi-pin connector, thelongitudinally extended portion generally forming a receptacle area forthe multi-pin plug.
 6. The light housing adapter according to claim 4,wherein the means for guiding and aligning the light bulb with themulti-pin plug through the opening at the proximal end of the housingportion comprises: a raised longitudinal ridge portion, said raisedridge portion being parallel to the central axis of the adapter; and theraised ridge portion extending inwardly from an inside surface of thehousing portion.
 7. The light housing adapter according to claim 1,wherein the multi-pin connector is a bi-pin connector.
 8. The lighthousing adapter according to claim 2, wherein the housing portion ismade from a polymeric composite material.
 9. The light housing adapteraccording to claim 2, wherein the housing portion is generallycylindrically-shaped.
 10. The light housing adapter according to claim4, wherein the means for guiding and aligning the multi-pin plug intothe multi-pin connector and the means for guiding and aligning the lightbulb with the multi-pin plug through the opening at the proximal end ofthe housing portion are oriented about 90 degrees from each other. 11.The light housing adapter according to claim 8, wherein the polymericcomposite material is selected from the group consisting ofpolypropylene composites, polyvinyl composites and reinforced nyloncomposites.